January 14, 2002

5:26 AM

It's the music *you* love but everyone you know hates it... It's the band you love. You've played them to all your friends. All your friends hate them (don't they see? haven't they got ears? can't they hear?) You've tried the old "no - really just *listen* to them...honestly they *are* great - can't you even see yet?" ploy... But you can't make anyone understand and everyone you know still hates them. This is my one. (mp3's available) What's yours? (nb. i know most of you are going to hate this band, so it would be pointless to post replies of the "this band are sh*t nature)
posted by Spoon (74 comments total)

I thought maybe this wasn't Metafilter when I saw that post. All those asterisks. All that 2nd-person banter. !
posted by kv at 5:46 AM on January 14, 2002

Mine is the inimitable, stupendous Stan Ridgway, formerly of Wall of Voodoo, currently solo plus various other projects.

Yes, he is not a band, but he generally uses one.
posted by rocketpup at 5:48 AM on January 14, 2002

Anyone else here a Erectus Monotone fan?
posted by saladin at 6:03 AM on January 14, 2002

I love PFB.
posted by pracowity at 6:06 AM on January 14, 2002

Well, I think mine must be unique for an old, married, hetero guy, but I really like . . .

Sorry, I just can't say it in public. Maybe I could say it with a Careless Whisper, though.
posted by kcmoryan at 6:09 AM on January 14, 2002

I'm always amazed at the lack of Frank Zappa appreciation amongst my friends/colleagues/relatives. But it's their loss.
posted by mudskunk at 6:09 AM on January 14, 2002

Mine is now and shall ever be The Spongetones. No...really, just listen to them...honestly, they're great...
posted by mac at 6:10 AM on January 14, 2002

I'm sorry, I must have wandered into a Yahoo!Club. There doesn't seem to be anything interesting on that site, and the question seems more important than the link.

Not to mention the fact that we already had a favorite band thread in the past week.

Move along, move along...
posted by dogmatic at 6:12 AM on January 14, 2002

*My* favorite band is the Pancakes, from Switzerland. Sehr gut!
posted by hijinx at 6:12 AM on January 14, 2002

Just any thumping house.
Drives my girlfriend, parents, housemates and most of my friends crazy.
That and latin music from the Buena Vista Social Club.
posted by ajbattrick at 6:14 AM on January 14, 2002

Frank Zappa, John Waters and Firesign Theatre make a nice evening cocktail.
posted by stbalbach at 6:17 AM on January 14, 2002

MetaTalk
posted by dogmatic at 6:18 AM on January 14, 2002

kcmoryan, i'm sorry, but you are a secret homo.

dogmatic. - thank-you

Spoon - i know people at your place of work. don't do this again. (loved the mouseaggeddon link btw)
posted by Frasermoo at 6:22 AM on January 14, 2002

before this thread gets axed....

monster magnet is the greatest band of all time.
posted by spunkster at 6:23 AM on January 14, 2002

yes, freddie's dead. john's not doing so well. roger's bizarre. brian...

well, brian still rocks.

so, yeah, i'll admit it. i dig queen.


posted by grabbingsand at 6:44 AM on January 14, 2002

Anything from the 90's SUCKS!
posted by HTuttle at 7:03 AM on January 14, 2002

i love neutral milk hotel. it's not that in the aeroplane over the sea hasn't changed my friends' lives the way it has mine, but...well, nmh fandom is like enjoying licorice. not everyone does. some get it, and some don't, and some are just amused by a song that starts "I LOVE YOU JESUS CHRIST!" and has a horn chart.
posted by pxe2000 at 7:10 AM on January 14, 2002

The Junco Partner does it for me.
posted by the cuban at 7:22 AM on January 14, 2002

Hum, without question. Everyone else considers them just another alternative band.
posted by nickd at 7:23 AM on January 14, 2002

Rancid - I've worn out six copies of "...And Out Come The Wolves". This could have been an interesting thread had it not been slandered by comments about what a 'bad post' it was.

You could at least let the thing develop a little before you slam it!
posted by revbrian at 7:50 AM on January 14, 2002

Hum, without question.

that one single, "stars" from a couple years ago, is still one of my favorite songs.

sadly, i dont recall them doing much after that...
posted by jerseygirl at 8:04 AM on January 14, 2002

Gee, so many to choose from.
All my friends hate Neutral Milk Hotel, and they really hate Eugene Chadbourne and King Crimson. All of my non-nerd friends hate Sparks and They Might Be Giants and Esquival, etc etc...

apologies to the "metafilter taliband" who feel this thread is a sin.
posted by mrhappy at 8:06 AM on January 14, 2002

Sugababes
posted by feelinglistless at 8:07 AM on January 14, 2002

yes, yes.
posted by quonsar at 8:23 AM on January 14, 2002

The Loud Family. Scott Miller's been making terrific pop music since the early 80's (first with Game Theory) and can't seem to get beyond a tiny cult following. Every time he releases a new album, the critical response is, "Well, this is completely amazing, but with song titles like 'Look, There Are No Lions in the Street' and 'Sodium Laureth Sulfate,' he doesn't actually expect anyone to listen to it, does he?"

Oh yeah, and my friends think that it's a horrifying fusion of nerdy 70's prog-rock and goofy 80's synth-pop.
posted by transona5 at 8:29 AM on January 14, 2002

Ok, I agree, this FPP is sinful, but when someone mentions the Cardiacs I have to respond anyway.

So, since I do not have to mention the Cardiacs as my BILBEIKH*, I will mention An Pierlé.

* Band I Love But Everyone I Know Hates
posted by Berend at 8:42 AM on January 14, 2002

KMFDM. My girlfriend hated them when we were together. Now I don't even listen to them anymore because they haven't put out an album for quite awhile, and their old music is tired in my car.
posted by schlaager at 8:44 AM on January 14, 2002

DEVO. All my friends think they're a novelty act, no matter how much I protest.
posted by waxpancake at 8:46 AM on January 14, 2002

Mr.Bungle No one ever gets Mr Bungle. I don't get it either but they're still cool.
posted by vbfg at 8:51 AM on January 14, 2002

Let me go back in time a bit. Although they're completely at odds with my general world of music, I've always thought the band STARZ was terrific. Generally dismissed as poor Aerosmith wanna be's, they released a handful of really good melodic rock albums. Anyone else dig 'em?
posted by davebush at 8:55 AM on January 14, 2002

davebush: STARZ were great. "Violation" was an excellent album, and "Sherry Baby" shoulda been a power-pop classic.
posted by mac at 9:01 AM on January 14, 2002

Hey mac: You rock six times!
posted by davebush at 9:03 AM on January 14, 2002

An alternative post woutld be What Band Do You Put On To Drive Party Stragglers From Your Home? I love the Mississippi Sheiks and they would work in a pinch for removing most people I know. Comedy records always work--except for Dolomite.
posted by y2karl at 9:10 AM on January 14, 2002

y2karl, I'm thinking of a band that fits both the original question and yours.

Skinny Puppy.

A friend who used to work at a record store turned me on to them. He said he would put on a Skinny Puppy album when he wanted to clear the store at closing time.

I like them anyway.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:58 AM on January 14, 2002

Phish and Primus.

I know there's fans out there but I'll be damned if I know one of them in person.
posted by bondcliff at 9:59 AM on January 14, 2002

I love the Showcase Showdown. Best Boston pogo-punk band EVER. Strangely, though, nobody out here in 213 has ever heard of them, and/or recoils in horror when I play my records at them.

For people debating the validity of this FPP: "Arguing on the internet is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded."
posted by phalkin at 10:01 AM on January 14, 2002

Ah, woutld that I could spell would... or Dolemite correctly.
Dolemite link courtesy of my friend Twist Turner.
posted by y2karl at 10:08 AM on January 14, 2002

TAG-C industrial research recordings - very scary (what would now probably be called 'dark ambient'), supposedly does that thing to your alfa-waves to effect your mind. also a hoax. i cannot find my copy any more - if anyone else has a copy i am willing to take it of their hands.
and of course foetus, judging by his ego, clint ruin thinks that he has made the big time, though most people may not have heard of him, my favourite album has to be the 1985 'nail'.
kind of 'marilyn manson' in the eighties, with less dressing up.
not only do my friends hate these things, but if i hum the lyrics as i go about my daily business, i get shouted at.
posted by asok at 11:14 AM on January 14, 2002

The man they call Webb Wilder...

"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard, grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em!"
posted by byort at 11:17 AM on January 14, 2002

just found some lyrics, and must say that for party emptying foetus generally works.
moby's 'thousand', and suprisingly the cocteau twins have also been very effective.
posted by asok at 11:24 AM on January 14, 2002

John Gorka.
posted by MarkAnd at 11:28 AM on January 14, 2002

Happy Flowers.
"I'm gonna tell you how it's gonna be -- you're gonna give some ice cream to me! I'm going to eat ice cream 'til I rot in hell! YAAAAARRRRGGGHHH!"
No one seems to appreciate this band. How could you not like a song called "Mom, I Gave The Cat Some Acid"?
Guranteed to clear any room in seconds flat.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:54 AM on January 14, 2002

Ween

Push the little daisies, motherf***ers :)

But in addition, the room-clearing stylings of Scritti Politti should not be discounted.
posted by UncleFes at 12:18 PM on January 14, 2002

I never met anyone who was as keen as I am about Test Department, A Certain Ratio, The Gang of Four or late PIL.

Not even the freakin' band members themselves - the ungrateful, know-nothing bastards!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 12:33 PM on January 14, 2002

"Your favorite band sucks." -- Onion T-shirt
posted by whuppy at 12:41 PM on January 14, 2002

Mine is Dream Theater.

I also kinda dig Queensryche.
posted by Yelling At Nothing at 12:52 PM on January 14, 2002

Atari Teenage Riot. You might call it "noise" I call it "anger management." RIP Carl Crack.
posted by misscolleen at 12:57 PM on January 14, 2002

Miss Red Flowers.
posted by fuq at 1:13 PM on January 14, 2002

Third Eye Blind. Is that so wrong?!

Well, perhaps so.
posted by Shadowkeeper at 1:39 PM on January 14, 2002

Happy Flowers

Didn't they sing "hello dad, i'm in jail!"? I love those guys.
posted by spunkster at 2:28 PM on January 14, 2002

Miguel - you're not the only Gang Of Four fan around here (although, if you're looking for support on anything after their second album you might find yourself all alone).
My favorite embarassing bands are Rush and Danzig, which are pretty taboo in indie circles.
posted by skwm at 2:44 PM on January 14, 2002

"Dad I'm in Jail" was by Was (Not Was).
posted by kindall at 3:19 PM on January 14, 2002

mine is Adam Ant.
Stand and deliver, your money or your life...
posted by lizardboy at 3:30 PM on January 14, 2002

I was happy to see Ween and Frank Zappa mentioned - but who could forget King Missile (nice fanpage) and their classic hit "Detachable Penis"? I guess owning six albums by them in their various configurations makes me a fan...
posted by RevGreg at 3:32 PM on January 14, 2002

I absolutely love Ladytron, Komeda, and Saint Etienne. Friends have accused the two former of being pure noise, and the latter of being fluff. Hmmph!
posted by mosspink at 3:35 PM on January 14, 2002

Adam Ant. Wasn't he arrested on firearms charges a couple of days back?

Mine's 73-74 King Crimson (Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, with Cross and Muir in supporting roles. The new stuff is a bit tired.) and Stereolab, though they seem to be fairly popular amongst geeks.
posted by GrahamVM at 4:51 PM on January 14, 2002

The Spin Doctors. They're all set for a huge come back, I'm telling you. Also, I've only ever had one friend who could listen to my favorite band, The Poster Children without beating her head against the wall. Their loss, I guess.
posted by krakedhalo at 5:24 PM on January 14, 2002

you know; I can't think of any bands I enjoy that my friends absolutely despise, because I tend to be attracted to incredibly poppy or rhythmic musics. That said, I can't think of any bands that I particularly bear some ill will towards -- except one, which, I suppose, should my friends be posting here, they might mention.

Pavement.

I really just don't get it. How does this band inspire so much devotion from folks? I always feel like their songs start out incredibly promising, and then they drop in some unconscionable tuneless sub-bob dylan vocals and some bizzarre senselessly minor bridge that totally destroys whatever hook they may have had.

(disclaimer: I just listened to the mp3 from the link I posted and actually rather enjoyed it, so perhaps I need to give them another chance. can anyone recommend an album? I already tried "Brighten the Corners" )

(disclaimer disclaimer: As soon as I decide to give the band a chance, I chance upon statements like "WORD: Is there a smarter American rock band than Pavement? ... Take it from an awestruck novelist who’s prone to overstating the obvious. Pavement aren’t just America’s most literate band, they could be its finest living writers, I mean in addition to their songs being wildly catchy and unpretentious and all that." ... I mean, are they really that good and I'm just tonedeaf or something?)
posted by fishfucker at 5:26 PM on January 14, 2002

My favorite band is Gainseville Florida's poppunk/ska kings Less Than Jake. I've tried to foist them upon as many of my friends as possible but have only managed to convert one person into a true believer. To achieve this of course entailed dragging said friend to one of their live shows to see them in their true element.

My pick for room clearing music would have to be Michael Gira, Jarboe and the Swans. Droning M. Manson-ish dirges. Repetetive and delightfully irritating in a slow way. Chinese water torture from an old rusty abbatoir sink.
posted by hotmud at 6:00 PM on January 14, 2002

My favorite underrated band is Apollo Four Forty. They're an 8-member rock/techno hybrid from Liverpool, England — they had a brief bit of fame with their hit single about two years ago called "Stop The Rock," but they've always been very low-key, despite their efforts to garner success. They also re-wrote technofied musical themes for the movie versions of "Charlie's Angels 2000" and "Lost In Space."

Most people recall that one "Stop The Rock" song but they are often disappointed by the full-length albums because the band's sound varies across several genres. Sure, a lot of their tracks are hard-rockin, Chemical Brothers-style tunes, but they have a vast range of styles in their catalog, from an ode to jazz drums ("Krupa") to classic arias ("Stealth Mass in F#m") to island rhythms ("Heart Go Boom"). I really like their stuff, but they seem to be regulated to the background of popular rock/techno music.
posted by Down10 at 6:04 PM on January 14, 2002

I have yet to find anyone in my age range who is into Tom Waits to any degree. It's taken me two years to get to the point where it's acceptable to my friends that his music is played in my car. Kinda the same story with Leonard Cohen.
posted by Hildago at 6:37 PM on January 14, 2002

I don't have friends so it's not much of a worry.
posted by davidgentle at 7:22 PM on January 14, 2002

i can tell from the tone of the cool kids that this thread is in danger, so i would just like to ask real quickly, has anybody else fallen in love with the Adding Machine?? Because you guys, seriously, should, like, check those guys out.
p.s. grabbingsand, i too am a closet queen fan. just fyi.
posted by babydoll at 9:28 PM on January 14, 2002

I'm a huge fan of Devo, Buena Vista Social Club and Queen, but my friends seem to leave me alone about those. The one they just don't understand is Rush. *sigh* Some people ...
posted by diddlegnome at 10:50 PM on January 14, 2002

Ween, UncleFes, I love Ween. And now they are playing in my brain.
posted by SuzySmith at 12:08 AM on January 15, 2002

Now that I think of it, pretty much everything I like most of you couldn't stand: Blind Willie Johnson? Skip James? Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys? The Monroe Brothers? Frank Hutchinson? Bill Ali'iloa Lincoln? Ella Johnson with Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra? Sister Rosetta Tharpe? Jeez--how many hard core fans of those are here?

And, mind you, I've seen, in my day, Bukka White, Son House, Mississippi Fred MacDowell, The Specials, Madness, Tuxedo Moon, The Skatalites, Bad Manners, Bootsy, The Clash, Talking Heads for 4$ in '79, Capt. Beefheart, Jonathan Richman at least 10 times, The Stones circa Exiles, Dylan and The Band, the Grateful Dead with Pig Pen 3 times, without 5 and the last time was in '73, Muddy Waters in '69 when he still had a conk and wore a lime green shark skin suit, Johnny "Guitar" Watson three times--he was the best live act ever--and I could go on and on.

All I hear here is about the greatest bands of the last five minutes. It's so underwhelming to hear you all when you talk about the good old days...
posted by y2karl at 1:33 AM on January 15, 2002

For me, the one bad I adore that all my friends hate is The Flaming Lips.

Why, oh why, can't people love them? Any band with a song about postal workers spontaniously combusting can't be all that bad....
posted by Windigo at 3:21 AM on January 15, 2002

Howzabout The Sugar Twins? Look & sound great!
posted by davidmsc at 4:51 AM on January 15, 2002

Any band with a song about postal workers spontaniously combusting can't be all that bad....

He doesn't spontaneously combust! Lightning strikes him.

Karl: I'm with ya. Kids these days.
posted by rodii at 5:57 AM on January 15, 2002

And the music they listen to is just noise, too.
posted by y2karl at 7:29 AM on January 15, 2002

I guess I oughta put in honorable mentions for two bands/performers whose names I haven't seen yet - Mojo Nixon and Dread Zeppelin! I actually got to see these two on the same stage one night - wow! My (ex)girlfriend never forgave me for taking her...
posted by RevGreg at 10:28 AM on January 15, 2002

Fishfucker, the right introductory Pavement album for you is dependent on your musical tastes; do you lean more towards low-fi-ish rock as perfected on Sebadoh's Bake Sale and the Archers of Loaf's Icky Metal, or do you like cleaner studio tracks, more along the lines of The Shins, or maybe even newer Built To Spill? If the former, try Slanted and Enchanted, the latter, Terror Twilight. If you still hate them, fear not, they're not for everyone; but remember that bad-mouthing them in front of jaded twenty-something coffeeshop employees in too-tight pants might unleash a heinous, slap-intensive dweeb fury. Good Luck!
posted by saladin at 1:29 PM on January 15, 2002

Man, does this thread hit a nerve. Early in my freshman year in college, I was playing a tune by the dB's, hoping to maybe engage the interest of my cute next-door neighbor. She asked me why I listened to such weird music and would I please turn it down.

(Sure thing, sweetie: one order of Zen Arcade at full volume coming right up, you philistine.)
posted by whuppy at 1:42 PM on January 15, 2002

I won. John Gorka trumps all.
posted by MarkAnd at 1:53 PM on April 30, 2002